Prior urges Hamilton-Brown to stay

Rory Hamilton-Brown has spent just two seasons at Sussex, but he will return to the Brit Oval should Surrey get their way

Matt Prior believes Sussex team-mate Rory Hamilton-Brown should stay at Hove rather than take on the “massive responsibility” of the Surrey captaincy.

Former England Under-19s skipper Hamilton-Brown is currently the subject of an approach by Surrey, with the county dangling the carrot of captaining the side next year should he move to London.

He left Surrey for Sussex after the 2007 season, and has a contract to remain at Hove until the end of next summer.

However, Surrey, for whom former Sussex coach Chris Adams is now cricket manager, made their intentions public in a statement on Tuesday.

Prior, currently preparing with England for the final ODI against South Africa, believes Hamilton-Brown - who came through the youth ranks at the Brit Oval - will be accepting a huge job if he returns.

“That will be a massive responsibility for him to go to a club like Surrey,” he said.

“With the big egos and big personalities there - a 22-year-old captaining Mark Ramprakash - that’s going to be hard work.

“It’s going to be hard work for anyone, let alone a guy who has just played a handful of championship games. If he wants to take on that responsibility, good luck to him. It’s a massive ask.”

Prior is adamant he wants to see Hamilton-Brown at Hove next season, but only if the youngster is fully committed to staying with the county.

“I would like to see Rory stay at Sussex because he’s a very talented cricketer,” he added. “But at Sussex I want to see players passionate about playing for Sussex.

Matt Prior, currently on England duty, insists Hamilton-Brown is better advised to stay with current employers Sussex

“If in their heart of hearts they are 100% about playing for Sussex and wanting Sussex to get back in the first division and carry on the legacy we’ve created over the last nine years, I want every player like that to stay at Sussex.

“If in the bottom of their hearts they want to go and live in London and play for Surrey, that is a decision they’ve got to make.”

Prior is intrigued by the added complication of all-rounder Hamilton-Brown being chased by former Sussex captain Adams.

“The way it’s been done is probably not quite right - but only ‘Griz’ (Adams) will know that, and the way he has gone about it.

“Griz knows what we’ve had at Sussex - and obviously was a massive part of it - and he wants to try and recreate that at Surrey. I don’t think that will ever be possible, but he has to go his own way about it.”

Sussex chief executive Dave Brooks stressed that the player has yet to be granted approval to talk to Surrey and believes Sussex can make a compelling case to retain his services.

An improved three-year deal is thought to be on the table should he opt to stay at Hove.

Brooks told The Argus: “We are far from resigned to losing Rory. We believe his cricketing development remains best served with Sussex.

“Rory does not have board consent to talk to Surrey so it is hypothetical to talk about whether he is too young or inexperienced to be captaining a county.

“But we would argue that if you are a cricketer of his calibre those opportunities will arise further down the line. We are convinced we can still make a powerful argument for Rory to stay.”